HC Deb 16 April 2002 vol 383 c909W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been employed by his Department in each of the last three years under(a) the New Deal for Young People, (b) the New Deal for the Over 50s and (c) the New Deal for Lone Parents; and at what cost, listed by category, to public funds. [44925]

Ms Blears

The Department does not record New Deal recruits under these categories.

New Deal recruits take up existing vacancies so extra costs to public funds are limited to the subsidy, where appropriate, and any additional training and development which may be needed. The cost of the latter cannot be readily identified.

Since joining the scheme in 1998 the Department of Health has taken 72 New Deal recruits. The Department also regularly provides Cabinet Office with New Deal statistics for progress reports for Department for Work and Pensions Ministers on recruitment to meet the benchmark figure for civil service participation in the New Deal programme.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people employed by his Department under the New Deal for Young People in each of the last four years have subsequently(a) found unsubsidised employment for more than 13 weeks and (b) returned to jobseeker's allowance or other benefits. [44905]

Ms Blears

Information is not held centrally on the number of New Dealers who have found unsubsidised employment for more than 13 weeks or who have returned to jobseekers' allowance or other benefits.